Introducing the next pattern… the Gabriola Skirt!

I’m excited to introduce the next pattern from Sewaholic Patterns today… the Gabriola Skirt!

The Gabriola Skirt is a flared maxi skirt that sits at the waist and falls to the floor.

Many maxi skirts are shaped like a tube, straight up and down with no curves, but not this pattern. It’s flared to create a curvy A-line silhouette, narrowing the waist and elongating the body. Angled panels around the waist flatter the figure and look especially good in striped fabrics. Sew the yoke panels in a contrast fabric, or choose one fabric for the entire skirt. Looks great in printed fabrics as well as solids. A centre back zipper makes this skirt easy to construct with a very sophisticated result.

I am about 5’3″ or maybe 5’4″ at the most, and I’m wearing flats in nearly all of these photos. And I don’t look short! I think it’s a myth that shorter women don’t look good in long skirts. We totally do!

The floral print above is a lightweight viscose fabric, way lighter than I would normally choose to wear on my bottom half, and yet it works perfectly for a skirt like this. There’s enough flare so it doesn’t cling to the hips and thighs.

The striped fabric is a cotton-hemp blend that’s a little more crisp, so you can see how the silhouette will look in different fabrics.

I love this newest pattern. This is one that I’m super excited to wear personally. I’ve waited forever to bring the samples home and wear them!

What inspired this pattern? I’ll tell you!

Two years ago, just before our road trip (because I remember wearing it in Salt Lake City) I bought a printed vintage 70’s cotton maxi dress, in a very loud purple and yellow print. I loved wearing a long skirt. I loved that it was A-line and because the skirt extends all the way the floor, the A-line is dramatically full and swishy. Yet this print is so wild and distinctive, you can’t wear it too many times like you could a more basic colour. (That and there are purple and yellow volcanoes on it.)

What if it was a skirt, instead of a dress? That way you could create more looks and outfits using the skirt as a starting point. I added more flare to the hem than the inspiration dress and the result is a skirt with gorgeous drape and movement. The new pattern design was inspired by the original dress, but it’s a more sophisticated garment.

Now that’s a pretty black skirt! It’s basic in colour, but in a sophisticated cut. Great for soft fabric with drape. The drapier, the better! Although it’s equally nice in a slightly crisper fabric. The striped cotton-hemp blend is more of a medium weight, with a coarser hand, and it’s still an awesome skirt. Even better in a way because it’s more durable and stands away from the body.

I’m on the short side, and many people consider maxi-skirts for tall women only. Not only do I not feel short, but I feel great in this skirt! I’m wearing flats in most of these photos. I hemmed it so it would touch the floor in flats, but swing above the ground slightly in heels.

Long skirts are so dramatic, and in summer, easier to wear than pants! It’s better to have a loose, swishy skirt than pants clinging to your legs in the heat.

It’s a really beautiful skirt that’s not that complicated to sew. If you can put in a zipper, you can make this skirt.

What does the name mean? The Gabriola Skirt is named for Gabriola Island, an island off the coast of Vancouver Island, close to Nanaimo. It’s pronounced ‘GABE-ree-oh-la’ not ‘GABB-ree-oh-la’ in case you wondered! I’ve been on a Vancouver Island theme for pattern names, and much like Salt Spring Island, Gabriola Island is home to artists, potters and glass-workers, bed and breakfasts, scuba diving, even an alpaca farm. (I saw them, the alpacas, they’re literally reachable from the side of the road. If you are brave enough to try patting an alpaca, that is.) The beach has sandstone rather than sand, it’s very beautiful. Exactly the right place for wearing a long skirt in a casual outfit.

This skirt is all about dramatic length. That’s the design and the vision for this pattern. However, a couple of pattern testers suggested that this skirt would be great shortened to knee length. I haven’t done it, but it would give you even more options for this pattern if you make shortened versions of the Gabriola skirt.

About Tasia

Hi, I'm Tasia, and I love to sew! I started this blog as a creative outlet, and now I design sewing patterns, write about sewing and work on Sewaholic Patterns full-time. I'll be writing about sewing projects, posting about new pattern designs, and sharing what it's like to run a sewing pattern company!

so excited! yesterday I drew a maxi skirt in my sewists notebook (as recommended by your good self) with a question mark about the pattern. Full marks for anticipating my sewing needs before I knew I had them. I particularly like the version with stripes.

this is a great skirt pattern! i love the design lines with the hip yoke. i’m still very sceptical about maxi skirts though… i love the idea, but feel a bit silly in them if it isn’t summer and sunny! although a midi lenght sounds very intresting!

Caroline’s putting together some styling ideas that might get you inspired! A maxi skirt looks great with a sweater and leather jacket, or blazer and top. Boots and leggings can hide underneath to keep you warm.
Of course you can easily shorten the skirt to a midi length, if that’s more your thing!

Oh, very nice! Unfortunately, I can’t wear long skirts at work (they’re not “professional” enough), but I’m thinking it would work quite well shortened to knee length! I love the paneling around the hip area.

Also, if you don’t mind my asking — is the white top you’re wearing in the photos RTW or a pattern from somewhere? I’d love to know where you got it; it looks like a wonderful simple shell for the office.

It’s really odd, but the most conservative outfit a professional woman can wear is a skirt suit. There are judges (the legal profession is one of the most conservative when it comes to clothing) that will send women lawyers home if they’re wearing a pants suit, although fortunately they are rare.

It goes something like this:

Most conservative:
–skirt suit with a pencil/straight skirt that is just above to just below the knee, silk shell

Slightly less conservative:
–pants suit
–pencil/straight skirt as above with silk or similar shell, plus a cardigan or blazer
–knee-length sheath dress (pencil-type skirt on it), plus a cardigan or blazer

Less conservative:
–trousers with silk or similar shell, plus a cardigan or blazer
–knee-length skirt of a shape other than pencil, but not very pleated or very full (no circle skirts, for example), top as above

Relaxed:
–dark washed jeans, top as above
–knee-length dress with a skirt shaped other than pencil/straight

Really relaxed:
–anything else

I’m an epidemiologist who interacts with patients regularly; I can wear up to “less conservative” from the list above, but would be subject to a reprimand if I wore anything off the “relaxed” or “really relaxed” list unless I was absolutely sure I wasn’t going to encounter the public (or hospital administrators) at all that day.

What if the person in the conservative job doesn’t look good in pencil or straight skirts? I suppose with men’s suits, they have no choice about what their suit shape looks like. Interesting levels of formality. I would have thought a pantsuit was more conservative because you don’t see legs or heels and because it’s more unisex.

You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But there’s a lot of historical legacy in what is appropriate attire for women in the workplace (for men as well, of course, but it plays out differently), and for a long time it was considered inappropriate for women to wear pants. Then it was considered inappropriate for women to wear pants in formal settings, and now it’s only considered inappropriate for women to wear pants in very conservative professional settings. The legacy is still there, though.

To my knowledge, it’s really rare that wearing a skirt suit is *required* — I have heard of a few judges who insist on it, and it might also sometimes be required in really conservative professions like accounting or finance, but I can’t speak to that personally. I’d say in almost all situations in almost all professions, you’re fine wearing a pants suit if a suit is required. Working in the medical field, there’s never been a situation in which I couldn’t wear trousers if I wanted.

The pencil/straight skirt thing, though — you can veer off script and wear a more loosely cut skirt if you’re very sure of both your environment and the skirt itself. A-line on up skirts just aren’t considered as professional. If you don’t look good in pencil/straight skirts, well, you either find a skirt that still looks professional enough for your situation, you wear trousers, or you deal with not looking your best. It’s frustrating — and extra frustrating because men don’t have the same rules and aren’t judged on their appearance to the extent women are — but how you dress does influence how well you can perform your job in certain professions. (We can be offended by the judges who send women lawyers home when they don’t wear a skirt suit — I know I am — but that’s not a hill a lawyer should die on; lawyers are there to give their clients the best representation they can. Similarly, how I dress directly influences how I am perceived by patients and therefore how well I can do my job. It’s unfortunate but true.)

Thanks, Bess, for an in-depth look into another world — so interesting to read about! I appreciate your point about it not being a hill to die on — that’s something we can all relate to. I pick my battles on daily basis…

I agree. Dress codes for lawyers vary from workplace to workplace to a certain extent, but certainly a skirt or pant suit is not at all an everyday must nowadays. An outfit with a jacket is clearly more formal, but you have quite a bit of leeway in terms of skirt length, cut, and fabric. Much depends upon how you put together and accessorize the outfit. That said, a maxi skirt is not a realistic office option for a lawyer, though I think a midi skirt could be made to work (e.g., with a tailored short jacket).

Fascinating and thanks for all of the insights! Makes sense. I knew someone whose grandmother wasn’t allowed to wear pants, because the grandfather didn’t approve. And this is in the 2000’s, not that long ago. Isn’t that bizarre?

I agree, how you dress has a huge impact on how you’re perceived. When I wear a blazer and a nice skirt, I’m treated more like a real adult. When I wear jeans and a casual sweater, I’m treated more like a teenager or young adult. Unfortunate, but true, and probably why we’re interested in clothing and sewing and everything else related to that!

I’ve never thought of myself as a maxi skirt-wearing girl, but I’m going to have to reconsider. I’m 5’1″ & think of myself as too short to pull that look off, but your version is very flattering. I’ll be ordering it, for sure!

I’m only a little bit taller, and I loved the look of the design on me! Of course I might be a little biased :) but I do think it’s not limited to tall people only. The flared silhouette helps with that, and so does the tucked-in top.

Aaaaah I am literally freaking out with excitement right now – I can’t wait to get my hands on this amazing pattern! Wow! Congrats on another fantastic creation. I know what I’ll be sewing and wearing this spring and summer!!

Oh, this is lovely! It’s going to be a maxi summer for me! I’ve bought fabric for two maxi-length Saltsprings, and I think I need to make two of the Gabriola as well! The skirt is very striking in a stripe – I can’t wait to get started!

You’ve done it again – I am so in love with this design, Tasia! Not at all what I was expecting, in a good way. :) Extremely elegant.. but comfortable-looking at the same time. I love how you could make this just as easily for the office with ballet flats as you could for a summer wedding with heels!! I will definitely be ordering this pattern.

Also – these photos turned out amazing!! They look like they came straight out of a fashion magazine.. :) !!

Thank you so much! I’ll be wearing it with ballet flats all summer long, or flat sandals, I really wanted the skirt to look wearable, not like a special-occasion-only design.
I’m so glad you like the photos, I’m so happy with how they turned out!

I don’t think I would – I’d be worried about possibly ruining the skirt! You could probably clip it up and out of the way, maybe, but I’m with you. The longest skirt I’ll wear is the long version of the Hollyburn, or the Lonsdale Dress, both are the same length.

Gorgeous! It looks so elegant in all the versions – the stripy one looks quite Edwardian to me (first series of Downton), and the black one’s got me thinking it would make a perfect concert skirt for orchestra (I reckon it’ll be full enough for playing the cello). Also my sister’s always telling me maxi skirts are the answer to that summertime problem of waiting for your leg-hair to get long enough to wax again!!

I just HAD to stop and say what a piece of perfection the striped version of your new skirt is.
All of your stripes match up perfectly at the seams to create lovely chevrons. Really excellent work! Just went and looked at the pattern drawing. Creative and very flattering…I think you knocked it out of the ballpark…again!

Thank you! I worked really hard to get those stripes just right. Especially since I knew it was going to be photographed, and in a clear way, not in a blurry-artsy way.
But the good news is that I took plenty of notes so I could share my stripe-sewing tips for this skirt pattern! :)

I think it would also work at a midi length, which should be wearable in office settings. I am tempted to try making this skirt, which would be my first experience at clothes-making. I’ve used a sewing machine for years, but only for hemming and simple taking-in. Tasia, do you think this is a good first sewing project?

This would be an adventurous first project. It’s not incredibly hard, but it’s not quite as detailed for a beginner as the Hollyburn Skirt. We’ll be doing a sewalong, Caroline is walking you through all of the sewing steps, so you’ll be in excellent hands if you do decide to tackle it.
Hope this helps! Only you know your level of adventurousness and if you get frustrated easily, or like to push yourself to learn new things.

Thanks, Tasia. I believe I am pretty adventurous, but perhaps I will consider some other patterns before picking my first project. Looking at the photos of your new maxi skirts more closely, I can see that there are details (especially around the hips) that could throw a beginner, and the paneling may not be easy, either.

The other thing you can do is watch the sewalong, and see if anything seems particularly challenging or confusing. If you read all of the posts and everything seems doable, then you’re good to go!
If you are looking for a more beginner-friendly pattern the Hollyburn has more thorough instructions to help newer sewers.

Love it! Great to hear from all the other maxi-skirt fans :) I was surprised to feel tall in it, and I didn’t even feel like I needed massive heels to pull off the look. It’s so great to hear the same thing from you as well!

Oh, I love maxi dresses and skirts. I made several last year and practically lived in them all summer long! Way better that pants!
However this particular pattern might have to wait until summer ’15, as I’ll be developping quite the bump this summer ….
But congrats on another wonderful pattern, you rock!

Congratulations on your latest pattern release, Tasia, it’s fantastic! I’d love to make several different versions, and I especially love your floral and stripey skirts above. Definitely ear-marking this one for summer. Beautiful!

If I’m not too short, you’re not too short! :) It’s a great look for both summer and winter. (Well perhaps not if there’s snow on the ground.. but ok if it’s just cold!) When I was looking for ideas on how to wear and style this skirt, I was surprised to see how great a long skirt looks with a sweater and jacket, as well as a tank top and necklace.
Caroline has some great styling ideas coming up as well!

Oooooh!!!!!! I’ve been contemplating my next batch of projects for the Minerva Crafts Blogger Network, and I think this is going to be my July project! Ahh I just love swishing around in long skirts in the summer! It makes me feel like a fairy princess. ^_^

I think it would be okay! You’d lose some of the drama of the full-length skirt, and most of the flare, but if you love the yoke paneling it would work.
If it were me I’d aim for just below the knee, not above, so you get a little more flare and length while still making it slightly more work-appropriate.
Hope this helps!

This is really lovely! I like that it’s somewhat fitted at the hips, but so drapey and flowy at the hem–definitely a flattering silhouette. I’ll have to start looking for some nice drapey fabric to make this up in… Can’t wait to see all your pattern testers’ versions. :)

Perfect concert skirt, thanks! You have no idea how hard it is to find floor length black skirts in the shops! I am 5’8 and a complete sucker for maxi skirts – I have about 6 in my wardrobe… Always room for another!!

Tasia,
Beautiful skirt. I have a question. I have a little bit of a pooch in my belly and this seems pretty fitted to the hips. Could you put something – interfacing or a spandexie kind of fabric behind the panel pieces to act like a tummy tucker? I haven’t sewn much so that’s why I’m asking. I’m thinking something that would just be attached at the outer seams, slightly narrower than the actual panels? I’m wondering if any of your followers have any ideas.

This is a really interesting question. It is fairly fitted to the hips, not tight or snug by any means, but more so than a circle skirt. Check the finished measurements here for an approximate idea of the fit – http://sewaholic.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/1401_Sewaholic_Gabriola_skirt_back.pdf
There’s quite a bit of ease, BUT, I think the idea of trying to create a stronger panel for a tummy tucker is an interesting concept. The looser the fabric, or the more drape, the more revealing the skirt will be over the tummy. The striped version in the hemp-cotton is less revealing because the fabric has more body. I don’t think spandex would work, as a layer, because it would just cause the outer layer to ripple. In order to use spandex I’d think you would have to create a completely separate skirt layer, as if you were wearing a shaper slip, and sew that into the waistband. Even if you make this inner layer shorter than the rest of the skirt, stopping below the hip and above the knee.
I think it will take some experimentation but it’s an interesting idea to explore!
Anyone else have a suggestion for Carol?

I was just thinking that the interfacing has pretty much that effect on the Crescent Skirt.

Obviously I haven’t seen this pattern, but could you interface the panel pieces and make a longer facing, also interfaced, and stitch in the ditch like you do with the Crescent? I guess that wouldn’t work for all fabrics but could help a little.

My first thought was also to make a midi version or to combine it maybe with the Cambie top half? Frankenpatterning is fun. I like it as it is, but I already own a few maxi’s. My favourite is the striped one, I think, because it brings out the paneling best.

Interesting! You’d think maybe that wearing a similar colour top would be lengthening, I think the colour and pattern choice will affect the look too. The black and paisley versions are the most lengthening, the stripes is the most shortening I think.

What a neat idea, adding it to a Cambie top half! Would love to see that if you give it a try!

Finally, a maxi skirt for those of us who are a little curvier! I have avoided this style simply because it wasn’t flattering. You really hit it out of the ball park on this one, Tasia! Thank you. Can’t wait to make it!

I agree, shorties CAN wear long skirts. I think we look longer and leaner in them, just the same as our average height and tall friends. I really love this pattern and think its very on trend! I, however, already have a handful of vintage skirts patterns that are too similar to this for me to grab a copy. Looking forward to the next one.

Nice one, Tasia! Just as I was thinking I was too old/too short for maxi skirts! I might just give this one a go! It is so flattering for all shapes and sizes and I love previous comment about adding to Cambie top (when I can get one that is!). I look forward to seeing some made up as shorter versions too! This pattern has many possibilities!

I love the lines of this skirt, perfect yoke styling and flare. I love long skirts and I have the perfect fabric in my stash. A medium weight large floral silk, a present from a few years ago and have been racking by brains what to do with as the colouring doesn’t suit me for a dress. Lovely work Tasia.

I recently had a baby and unfortunately don’t have much time to catch up with Sewaholic anymore. I am SOOOO glad I decided to check in today. This skirt is gorgeous. I just bought some fabric for a maxi, and I’m going to switch to this pattern instead of the one I already own. I always struggle with what top to wear with a maxi skirt, and I love the one you’re wearing in the photos. Can’t wait to find out more about it and get some styling ideas.

Congrats and so glad you decided to stop by then! The top is a new pattern design that’s coming later this Spring, and Caroline’s putting together some styling inspiration ideas as well. We’ll also share other people’s Gabriola Skirt projects on the blog, so you can see how everyone else has styled their skirts too!

Beautiful skirt! I’m short and, as you mentioned, have always heard long skirts make short people look shorter but this looks great on you. I am going to have to give this a try — if nothing else to wear at home during the summer. I agree, it’s much nicer to wear a skirt than pants when it’s hot out. I’ll be ordering soon!

I am just a half inch over 5′ and I love wearing long skirts. There is some lovely drama about them, isn’t there? My husband thinks they are totally sexy and I’m not sure why, he usually likes to see skin not cover it. ;) I really like the shape of the skirt, very nice to keep some curve to the body and motion at the hem rather than just a flat tube.

This is the maxi skirt I didn’t know I can’t live without until now! :-)
And I particularly love the fitted yoke.
I prefer maxi dresses and skirts for summer – much breezier than trousers – and I’m on the short side too at 5’2.
Great pattern and already ordered

LOVE THIS SKIRT! (and have ordered it). I’m a huge maxi fan, have a TNT dress pattern and have been keeping an eye out for a great long skirt. I know exactly which fabric I’m going to use, too: a lovely aqua and olive rayon twill hibiscus print that’s been loitering in the stash for 2+ years, waiting for the perfect pattern. This looks like the one.

OMG, I want to make it in a jewel tone fabric, with a lace overlay on the yolk, and a freefloating lace overskirt on the bottom portion with a tattered hem, and wear it with drapey chain belts, all victorian-gothic.

I’m excited to sew up this pattern! Quick question on the versions you made with lightweight viscose– what type of interfacing did you use? Sew-in? I bought a really nice, drapey polyester but I’m concerned about melting the fabric when applying the interfacing. Any advice would be appreciated!

[…] have decided to participate in the sewalong for the new Sewaholic.net pattern, the Gabriola skirt. I have been wearing a cheap long knit skirt through summer and really love wearing it. It is just […]

[…] one long swishy skirt (though I think one day I’d like to make myself something like the Sewaholic Gabriola and swish about the kitchen in that). Most of my wardrobe is made up of basics; a lot of my […]

[…] Well I am officially bummed. Oh it’s nothing you have done, its just me and my lack of skills when it comes to sewing. But please no pity, just feeling a bit sorry for myself. Why the mood you ask? Well it started (and ended) with my latest project, “The Gabriola.” […]

[…] Well I am officially bummed. Oh it’s nothing you have done, its just me and my lack of skills when it comes to sewing. But please no pity, just feeling a bit sorry for myself. Why the mood you ask? Well it started (and ended) with my latest project, “The Gabriola.” […]

[…] have decided to participate in the sewalong for the new Sewaholic.net pattern, the Gabriola skirt. I have been wearing a cheap long knit skirt through summer and really love wearing it. It is just […]

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About

Hello, I'm Tasia and I'm a sewaholic! I live in Vancouver, BC, Canada and love fabric, colour and fashion. I blog about sewing projects, sewing tips and inspiration...
and I've recently launched my own collection of sewing patterns!